This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Obviously the context of Israel's sin continues from chapter 56.

B. This describes the OT choice of "the two ways"; one of life and peace and the other of self, sin, and ruin (cf. Deut. 30:15,19).

D. The setting of the idolatry is not Mesopotamia but Canaan's fertility cults (i.e., Ba'al, Asherah, Molech). This reached its apex under King Manasseh.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 57:1-101"The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart;And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.For the righteous man is taken away from evil,2He enters into peace;They rest in their beds,Each one who walked in his upright way.3But come here, you sons of a sorceress,Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute.4Against whom do you jest?Against whom do you open wide your mouthAnd stick out your tongue?Are you not children of rebellion,Offspring of deceit,5Who inflame yourselves among the oaks,Under every luxuriant tree,Who slaughter the children in the ravines,Under the clefts of the crags?6Among the smooth stones of the ravineIs your portion, they are your lot;Even to them you have poured out a drink offering,You have made a grain offering.Shall I relent concerning these things?7Upon a high and lofty mountainYou have made your bed.You also went up there to offer sacrifice.8Behind the door and the doorpostYou have set up your sign;Indeed, far removed from Me, you have uncovered yourself,And have gone up and made your bed wide.And you have made an agreement for yourself with them,You have loved their bed,You have looked on their manhood.9You have journeyed to the king with oilAnd increased your perfumes;You have sent your envoys a great distanceAnd made them go down to Sheol.10You were tired out by the length of your road,Yet you did not say, 'It is hopeless.'You found renewed strength,Therefore you did not faint."

57:1 Evil triumphs when the righteous are persecuted and murdered, and no one seems to care!

1. no man takes it to heart

2. no one understands

▣ "is taken from evil" As the wicked seek self and sin, the righteous are delivered from the terrible influence of the Fall (cf. Genesis 3; 6:5,11-12).

57:2 This verse describes the spiritual condition of the righteous man.

1. enters into peace (because of v. 1 this must be mental)

2. rest in their beds (BDB 1012). There is a word play on this word used here of the righteous, but in vv. 7,8, of the wicked.

a. bed for sleep

b. bed for sex

c. the grave

3. walked in his upright way (i.e., lifestyle faithfulness)

57:3-4 These verses describe the wicked ones mentioned in v. 1. They are characterized as

NASB"shall I relent concerning these things"NKJV"Should I receive comfort in these"NRSV"Shall I be appeased for these things"TEV"Do you think I am pleased with all this"

The Israelites' fertility worship, even if done in YHWH's name, was unacceptable!

57:7 This refers to the Ba'al and Asherah altars which were placed on the tops of hills (cf. Deut. 12:2; II Kgs. 17:10; Jer. 3:6; 17:2; Hos. 4:13). The phrase "made their bed" refers to the ritual sexual activities offerred for the fertility of the land, herds, and human population (cf. v. 8b-d).

57:8 The first two lines are ambiguous. This could refer to an idolatrous image set up

1. in their homes

2. on their village walls

3. in the temple itself (cf. Ezekiel 8-10)

One wonders if this is somehow related to political/military alliances with pagan nations who demanded the worship of foreign gods (cf. vv. 8d-e, 9).

NASB"you have looked on their manhood"NKJV"where you saw their hand"TEV"there you satisfy your lust"NJB"with your eyes on the sacred symbol"JPSOA"you have chosen lust"NRSV, NIV,Peshitta"where you saw their nakedness"

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 57:11-1311"Of whom were you worried and fearfulWhen you lied, and did not remember MeNor give Me a thought?Was I not silent even for a long timeSo you do not fear Me?12I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,But they will not profit you.13When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you.But the wind will carry all of them up,And a breath will take them away.But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the landAnd will possess My holy mountain."

57:11-13 This strophe starts with a series of questions from YHWH to His faithless covenant people. The tragedy was that they were "religious" (cf. vv. 12,13a) but had

The reasons they had neglected YHWH was His silence (v. 11d). This may refer to true prophets who were not sent or at least not heard.

The idols are "vanity" and "emptiness." The wind will carry them away and along with them, those who trust in them.

57:11

NASB, NJB"for a long time"NKJV"from of old"TEV"for so long"JPSOA"so long"REB"look away"NAB"unseeing"

The JPSOA mentions an emendation that results in "and shut my eyes" (p. 898), which is followed by REB and NAB. The same Hebrew consonants םלעמו can be translated "and from eternity" or "and being hidden."

57:13d-e But those few faithful ones who trust in YHWH and take "refuge" (Qalparticiple, BDB 340, KB 337) in Him will be preserved and rewarded by the giving of

1. the Promised Land

2. YHWH's presence (i.e., the temple)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT:57:14-2114And it will be said,"Build up, build up, prepare the way,Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people."15For thus says the high and exalted One<br> Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,"I dwell on a high and holy place,And also with the contrite and lowly of spiritIn order to revive the spirit of the lowlyAnd to revive the heart of the contrite.16For I will not contend forever,Nor will I always be angry;For the spirit would grow faint before Me,And the breath of those whom I have made.17Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;I hid My face and was angry,And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,19Creating the praise of the lips.Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,"Says the Lord, "and I will heal him."20But the wicked are like the tossing sea,For it cannot be quiet,And its waters toss up refuse and mud.21"There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

57:14 There is a series of imperatives whereby YHWH commands that all necessary preparations be made for His faithful ones to return from exile (cf. 40:3-4; 62:10).

This should not be interpreted as a period of time set by God after which His grace ceases, but the reality that when humans ignore and violate His word and will, there is a terrible consequence of hardening. The human heart becomes unable to hear and respond!

It is interesting that the OT contrasts the human emotions of love and anger when describing God.

1. for the spirit (see Special Topic at 40:7) would grow faint before Me

2. the breath would grow faint

Notice the parallelism of "spirit" (BDB 924) and "breath" (BDB 675) as in 42:5. The frail physical and now psychological condition of fallen mankind cannot endure the silence (vv. 11,17) and anger (vv. 16,17) of their Creator and Redeemer!

57:17 YHWH's judgment is analogous to a parent's punishment (cf. Hosea 11). He does it so His children will learn and turn from it, but sadly some will not, cannot (v. 17c; 1:3,4).

57:18-21 There is an obvious contrast between the way YHWH will treat the contrite and the rebellious.

1. contrite - vv. 15-16,18-19

2. rebellious - v. 17,20-21

57:18-19 Notice what YHWH will do for the contrite and lowly of spirit (v. 15), those both near and far (v. 19).